Hi to all my friends and family near and far! This is a Christmas morning (2016) recording of a variety of birds in Royal National Park (RNP), just 10 mins walk from our house. I recorded it as a small gift for you all, a sonic postcard of the bush that's so close. RNP is about an 80min drive south east of Sydney CBD.  

I deeply love all facets of nature and in the voices of the birds I feel vibrant and positive life. That gives me joy and hope. 

So this is a gift of life, joy and hope. Particularly for the coming year of 2017! May it be kind to you yet bring you challenges that assist you to grow. May you rise more than you have already and grow big enough to fill your own dreams. 

May you also find deep peace and love. 

PS - the photo's a sulphur-crested cockatoo feather that I found walking home from recording these birds.

(Please excuse the low recording quality. The recording was unplanned, I didn't have my good mic and there's a little aircraft noise. Still, the birds sound awesome :D )

Australian Birds of Christmas Day 2016

This is an interview I was very privileged to conduct and record with Les Bursill (OAM) (1945 – 2019) and Dean Kelly on 31 May 2013. Les and Dean spoke to me on the western bank of the Hacking River below Audley weir, Royal National Park. The interview was arranged to be about nuwi ("noo-wi") or nowi (“now-i") (also "nar-wi") but thanks to the generosity and passion of both men, they discussed a lot more than that. I intended the interview to be the first episode of a podcast series about wooden boats of Australia; the podcast however didn’t eventuate. This was the second time I’d conducted an interview and didn’t have any training; please excuse the roughness of some of my questions. 

Sadly Les passed away on 16 February 2019. His funeral service provided me with the insight that the huge generosity of time and knowledge he (and Dean) showed me back in 2013 was experienced by many other people who were also not known to him. It was also a strong reminder that I needed to get the fantastic content of this interview online.

Les and Dean – thank you immensely for the time and knowledge you shared with me in that special place, back in 2013.  

Editing: Pre-interview comments were cut; Speech volume was levelled 33% and loudness was matched to -16LUFS. 

If you download & use this please credit both Les Bursill and Dean Kelly. Thanks. 

Photo: Dean Kelly with a model nowi / nuwi he made. He showed me this after our interview in May 2013. 

About Les Bursill:
Les is of the Dharawal Language group.  He is associated by birth with the NoronGeraGal of the Woronora (River) Valley, NSW. Les is a historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, and publisher. He was awarded the OAM in January 2010 for Heritage and Arts. Les refers people seeking more information to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Bursill

About Dean Kelly:
I am Dean Kelly and identify as a South Coast NSW Saltwater Yuin, Walbunja, Dhurga, Gurandgi Cultural man through my father, and Western NSW Freshwater Stone Country Cultural Wailwan, Nypampai Man through my mother.  I was born in Sydney NSW on Gadigal Land in 1967.

I am member of the Botany Bay Aboriginal Community and am also accepted as belonging to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community. I am a Cultural Practitioner who enjoys sharing my knowledge of Aboriginal culture & heritage, which has been passed down through my family for countless generations.

I work as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer for NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. My role is to create understanding between Aboriginal people, non-Aboriginal people and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and to also facilitate opportunities for Aboriginal people to reconnect with country, culture and to get involved in Park Management Activities.

My role also provides community with: Education Programs, Cultural Awareness, Access to Country and cultural experiences such as Cultural Leadership Camps and modified Cultural Camps.
“Culture is life without it I have nothing”

11 Making Stone Axes - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

10 Nuwi Or Nowi Use & 'Ownership' - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

09 Several Hundred Languages In Australia - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

08 Tools Used To Make Nuwi Or Nowi - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

07 Time & Season For Making Nuwi Or Nowi - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

06 Early Surf Craft & Dug Out Canoes - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

05 Pemulwuy - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

04 Choosing The Tree - Dean Kelly & Les Bursill

03 Nuwi Were Paddled 9km Offshore To Barranguba - Dean Kelly

02 1200 Years Ago Dharawal Women Used Fishing Line & Shell Hooks - Les Bursill

01 Introduction - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly

Traditional Aboriginal Nuwi or Nowi (Bark Canoes) & Culture - Les Bursill & Dean Kelly May 2013

https://www.brycenew.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brycenewphoto
https://www.facebook.com/brycenewphoto

Bryce New

Popular tracks